H.S. boys golf: Westwood's freshman sensation Chris Lee leading way

Westwood’s Chris Lee is one of several North Jersey freshmen making a major impact on their teams this season.

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at Westwood

Freshman Chris Lee, at 5 feet 5 inches tall and 110 pounds, has lifted Westwood’s golf program to heights it hasn’t enjoyed in several years.

Lee has been the Cardinals’ best player the first two weeks of the season, and his ability to break 40 in nine-hole matches has lowered team scores and raised teammates’ motivation.

"Chris has brought a sharper edge to the team," said coach Paul Levesque, whose current group could be his best in at least five years. "Everybody knows that he’s the guy to beat on the team, and so it’s a healthy competition that he brings."

"I give a boost," said Lee, 14, "but everyone who is part of the team is giving a boost to each other."

Lee is among several North Jersey freshmen making a major impact on varsity. Thus far, the best of the Class of 2017 has been Bergen Catholic’s Jimmy Criscione, who has a nine-hole average of 37.

The list, with input from coaches, also includes Paramus’ Gaetano Fernandes, Antonio Sirianni of St. Joseph, DePaul’s Ryan Fitzsimmons, Northern Highlands’ Spencer Shih and Kenny Battaglia, and Hyoyi Joo of the Ridgewood girls.

North Jersey has produced more than its share of star freshmen over the past decade. In 2005, Ramapo’s Morgan Hoffmann won his first of two Tournament of Champions titles, and he’s in his second season on the PGA Tour. Also in 2005, frosh Eunae Jo and Julia Rappa lifted Ridgewood to its first of three state girls titles.

Lee stamped himself as a potential high school standout during the summer, when he qualified for the 16-player match play at the New Jersey Boys Championship.

Through his first five matches, Lee has averaged 40.0, with scores ranging from 38 to 42. Westwood has featured four-player scores of 168 and 170 that are more than 15 strokes better than this time last season.

"We push each other with our scores," said junior Mike Green, who averages in the low 40s. "He’s been the most consistent guy on our team so far, and he’s great to have on the team, and it’s great to practice with him and play with him."

Lee’s strengths are his driving accuracy and short game, and Levesque said, his poise and course management help him avoid suffering double- and triple-bogeys.

"He doesn’t make many mistakes, but when he does, he can recover from them," Levesque said. "Sometimes in high school, they’ll make a mistake and compound it, and before they know it their taking a big number. That doesn’t happen with him."

While this is likely the best team Westwood (2-4) has had in several years, chances of qualifying for the North 1 sectional are slim. That’s because the Cardinals are the smallest school in the large-school Big North and face bigger, better competition.

Lee still can qualify as an individual for the sectional May 12. It takes five nine-hole scores of 4-over par or better to qualify and he could score that as soon as next week. By the end of the month, he expects to shoot regularly in the 30s.

"The score I want to see right now is in the 30s," Lee said. "Even in bad conditions, like really windy or rainy, it still wouldn’t change anything, because with my experience, I would say that shouldn’t be an excuse."